Logical Fallacies

Logical fallcies

errors in reasoning based on poor or faulty logic 

Fallacy

mistaken belief based on an unsound argument

Cognitive biases

common mistakes in reasoning

Heuristics 

cognitive shortcuts that cut down on time spent thinking or making decisions, but not always accurate 

straw man fallacy

when someone takes another person’s point, distorts it, and attacks distortion

False dichotomy (either/or, black or white, false dilemma")

arguer presents only two options when there are more possibilities

hasty generalization

generalizing based on small number of examples or insufficient evidence, stereotypes

bandwagon fallacy (ad populum, common belief, appeal to the masses)

getting people to do or think something because “everyone else is doing it”

Ad hominem (name calling, personal attacks)

Attacks person you are arguing against rather than the content of their arguments

appeal to fear

exploiting people’s fears to get them to say, do, or think what you want

appeal to authority

saying that because authority thinks something, it must be true. does not refer to citing an expert, rather when person is not much of an expert.

slippery slope

suggesting one event, action, or choice will lead to many more with each being more improbably than the last. lacks substantial evidence or reasoning for connecting one event to another.

circular reasoning (begging the question)

forming conclusion based on the claim without any real reasoning

availability heuristic

conclusion based on easily remembered or commonly seen examples rather than facts

red herring

an attempt to mislead or distract from topic at hand

post hoc (false cause)

when an argument mistakenly attempts to establish a casual connection. presumes that because x preceded y, therefore x caused y.

non sequiter

statement that is not connected in a logical way to what was said before it